Spring-connector.



T. G. GRI'ER z H. M. FISK.

SPRING CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED APR.8,1912.

1,045,280., Patented M6126, 1912.

Fig. 2 is a plan view o the parte shown in entran srarns rainer ernten,

THOMAS G'. GEIER AND HENRY M. FISE, 0F CHICAGO, ILIlNOIS; SAID FISE-ASSIG-NOR T0 SAID GRIER.

SPRNG-CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, i912.

Application led April S, 1912. Serial No. 689,299.

Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usei'ul Improvement in Spring-Connectors, of which the following 1s a specification.A

Gurinvention relates to spring connes# tors, or terminal connect-ors for electric bat teries and other electrical devices, and the objecto' the invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for maintaining electric Contact between the terminal and the conductor with which it is to be conn nected. `We obtain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure l is a front elevation of the upper portion of a so called dry battery equipped with two of onr' spring connectors.

Fig. l. Fig. Sis a side elevation oi' the parts shown at the right side of Fig. l. Fig. et is a perspective view ot the resilient strip which forms part of the connector, and

- Fig' is an elevation of a connector in which the resilient strip is slightly modified in form.

Similar letters of reference denote like parte in the different views.

ln'general it may be said that o ur connector consists oit' two coperating pieces, a post and a resilient strip adapted to coact therewith. l/Vhile these parts may be somewhat modified to suit conditions, a typical condition is exemplified by the use in connection with a dry battery, and therefore for convenience in description, a` dry battery has been selected to illustrate the invention.

The forms adapted for the center terminal of the dry battery are slightly different from the forms adapted for the side oi the battery, and the former will be described liist. l

The central electrode a. of the battery b is shown in the` present instance to be rectangular in cross section, and forms a suitable base or support for the parts of the connector.V vThe post c of our connector is of the usual form, and consists of an ordinary threaded screw which penetrates the electrode.' 'lhe resilient strip which forms the remaining essential element of our device has a flat foot el adapted to rest upon the side of said electrode. This foot has a suitable aperture d1 for accommodating the post c, and the post strip and electrode are rigidly secured together by a nut e or other suitable fastening means. At one end of the foot the strip has a spring bend f and,` farther on, a hook bend g adapted to engage a wire i1. to hold the same forcibly against the side of post c. The strip has an aperture z' at said hook bend for permitting the post to pass through the strip at this point. Beyond the hook bend is a tail or extension la which affords means whereby the device may be manipulated. So long as the parts remain assembled, the post projects through one or both layers of the strip.

The form shown in Fig. 5 is in all respects the same as the 4form shown at the middle of Fig. 1 except that thev spring bend hasx slightly more curvature. The forni shown in Fig. 3 and atvthe right side of Figs. l and 2 is adapted to be located at the side of the cell. In this form the post c instead of being provided with an ordinary screw head c1 is provided with a lip c2 for securing the post to the side of the battery can. The strip, similarly, is provided with a depending. lip or flange, Z2 for engaging the side of the can, this lip having an aperture 3 for accommodating the lip 02.

Inoperation, after the post and strip are assembled in the manner shown in the drawings7 the wire or other conductor h is insert'- ed by the operator who presses his thumb or finger against the extension 7c and forces the hook bend g( backward away from the-post as indicatedxby the dotted lines at the right of Fig. l.' This leaves room for the wire to be passed between the 'hook bend and the side of the post after which the operator releases the strip, whereupon the resilience l thereof holds the wire forcibly in Contact with the side ot' the post. As batteries are ordinarily constructed, the posts are screw threaded, and the pressure of the spring` strip therefore wedges the wire forcibly between two adjacent threads upon the screw which results in obtaining excellent Contact .and furthermore eliminates any tendency for the wire to slide longitudinally-of the post.

1cty I From the'toregoing it will be apparent linear post and a resilient strip, said strip having a spring bend and a second bend beyond the spring bend, the second bend forming a hook to thereby prevent excessive movement of a conductor lengthwise of tle post.

2. A spring connector comprising a rectilinear post and a resilient strip, said strip having a spring bend and a second bend beyond said spring bend, the strip being apertured adjacent to the hook bend to permit the post to pass through he strip, and the hook bend curving in the opposite direction from the spring bend and having a curvature exceeding ninety degrees to thereby prevent excessive sliding movement of a conductor alongside of said post.

3. A spring connector comprising a threaded screw and a resilient strip, said strip having a spring bend and a secondbend beyond the spring bend, the strip being apertured adjacent to the hook bend to permit the screw to pass through the strip, and a hook bend curving in the opposite direction from the spring bend and having a curvature exceeding ninety degrees whereby a hook is formed adapted to press a conductor into the threads on thescrew and coperatey therewith to prevent movement of a conductor lengthwise of the screw.

4. A spring connector comprising a threadedl screw adapted to be secured to an external object and a resilient strip having a foot adapted to be secured to an external object, said foot being apertured to permit the screw to pass through it, a spring bend in said strip beyond said foot, a hook bend in said strip beyond said spring bend, said bends curving in opposite directions, and

the hook bend having a curvature exceeding ninety degrees, said stripbeing apertured at a point above the foot for receiving said vscrew at a point inside the hook bend, whereby Aa conductor may pass transversely t0 the screw between the side of the screw and the inside of the hook bend.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of 'two witnesses.

THOMAS e. einen. HENRYl M. Frsx.

Witnesses:

GLENN A. Bnlees, HOWARD M. Cox; 

